Speaking Business Podcast

Each week I invite one of my speakers to talk about their life, work, passions and leisure so that you can get to know the person who is the speaker behind the mic. My guest this week is a pioneer in the fields of change and performance shift and the author of the bestseller "Taming Tigers". He always tests his ideas on bold fast change on himself first. He adapted from an overweight non-rider to televised jockey in 12 months and from non-free diver to the first Briton past 101m in 8 months - both whilst doing the day job. He embraces the lessons of neuroscience in delivering adaptation and change - ideas he first experimented with in his deep diving.  He confesses that when he was at school all he ever wanted was a job, he was terrible at sport and is a huge fan of Luke Bisson. Bio Jim Lawless is one of the world's leading motivational speakers and a pioneer in the fields of change and performance shift. He has inspired and empowered over half a million people on five continents. Jim's message is that change

This week's guest isn't a speaker but instead she is one of our favourite MC's.  She says that her role is to help event organisers to transform events into memorable experiences.  Witty, energetic and funny she's had the honour of introducing political figure heads, CEO's and household names on to the stage.  Welcome the event organisers' secret weapon, Lovelda Vincenzi. Bio International event MC and Moderator, Lovelda Vincenzi has been speaking and performing on stages since the age of 13.  With a background in event creation herself, Lovelda now specialises in MC'ing and moderating business conferences & summits for organisers who have want to create memorable events.  She is a professional, dynamic & versatile MC who is an asset to any event management team. Throughout her career Lovelda has introduced senior executives from companies such as Time Inc., Telefonica, Vodafone, Twitter & Google to the stage as well as household names such as Rachael Elnaugh (former Dragon on Dragon's Den) and Mo

My guest this week is the author of 8 books, a coach, consultant and of course a speaker.  His focus on authentic leadership and high performance is under-pinned by his inspirational 'purpose' approach which has been utilised by world-class companies.  In our discussion he shares how to find your purpose and how once you have, how to lead with purpose.  Please welcome Ben Renshaw.  Bio Ben Renshaw is a global leadership expert specialising in purpose-led cultures. Ben's focus on authentic leadership and high-performance is linked by his inspirational 'purpose' approach utilised by world-class companies. He is an engaging and inspiring keynote speaker, who transports his audience's thinking beyond what they first thought was possible. Ben has written 8 popular books inspiring people to be the best version of themselves including "Purpose: Why leading with purpose drives your success", "Lead: Be inspired, inspire others" and "SuperCoaching: The missing ingredient for high performance".  In Purpose, Ben provides

  My guest this week is Moonshot Futurist, Chief eXploration Officer and co-founder of the business consultancy TomorrowToday Global. He is also cancer slayer and a lover of all things cycling.   He's a TEDx speaker, author and internationally renowned for his insights on business impact, innovation and future trends. He is a guest lecturer at bothOxford and Henley business schools where he talks about disruptive forces and the power of innovation as a force for good.   He works with clients to deliver 10 times the impact and is on a quest to create a better working world. My guest is Dean van Leeuwen.     Bio Dean van Leeuwen believes in challenging people to use the power of business to innovate and do remarkable things. He believes that the most amazing innovations of the 21st century are yet to be invented. But a remarkable century will not just happen, we have to create it. So, Dean is on a quest to challenge audiences to unlearn and relearn, mobilising them to forge innovative solutions for the new Age

My guest this week first stepped on to the stage over 40 years ago as a founder member and drummer with the band Scritti Politti. Following a power cut at a gig in Berlin he found that keeping the beat going, even in the dark, meant the show could most definitely go on. 20 years later he set up Instant Teamwork, a global team building company, giving out 200 drums to his corporate audiences so they could not only hear that beat but they too could CREATE it.   Breaking down barriers, working in harmony, and getting corporate teams 'into the groove' leads to agile mindsets in the companies he now works with. He is most definitely an interactive speaker.  Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Mister Tom Morley.   Bio Tom Morley was the original drummer and a founder member of Scritti Politti, the 70s / 80s band who were pioneers of DIY music before appearing on the dance scene. Unlike other bands Scritti used to make half their songs up on stage. How is this significant to you? Simply because Tom creates INSTANT

I am thrilled to be joined by trend caster, economist and a New York Times best-selling author Dr. Shawn DuBravac.  Shawn spent over a decade as the Chief Economist for the Consumer Technology Association and is now President of Avrio Institute. His research focuses on how technologies are rewriting the nature of work, how the next era of 'datafication' will influence consumers, and how companies should prepare for the forces that will define their organisations in the coming decades.    Bio Dr. Shawn DuBravac is author of the New York Times Best Seller Digital Destiny: How the New Age of Data Will Transform the Way We Work, Live, and Communicate, which explores how the world's mass adoption of digital technologies portends the beginning of a new era for humanity in the realms of business, healthcare, finance, transportation and culture. Shawn DuBravac is a well-regarded futurist and trendcaster who writes frequently on disruptive technological shifts. He advises companies and C-level executives on market opp

Each week I invite one of my speakers to talk about their life, work, passions and leisure so that you can get to know the person who is the speaker behind the mic. My guest this week started his career managing high profile rock stars – and yes of course I get him to name names.  He is now an internationally recognised leader in business creativity and innovation. For over 20 years, he has been advising CEO's, entrepreneurs, educators, governments, leaders, writers and rock stars on how to build innovative organizations, unlock creative potential, and increase productivity. His forthcoming book is called "Augmented Creativity: Becoming SuperCreative in the Age of Artificial Intelligence". My guest is James Taylor. Bio James Taylor M.B.A. F.R.S.A. – who started his career managing high profile rock stars – is now an in-demand keynote speaker and internationally recognised leader in business creativity and innovation. For over 20 years, he has been advising CEO's, entrepreneurs, educators, governments and lead

My guest is serial entrepreneur and author Simone Vincenzi.  Simone has helped launch more than 500 profitable businesses all before the age of 30.  He is the go-to expert in selling from stage and in this episode, we talk about the differences and indeed the many similarities of speaking to sell and being paid to speak. Two Italians chatting about speaking, this is an episode not to be missed. Simone also shares his "Selling from stage check list" and "15 ways to get speaking gigs" which you can pick up in the show notes.  NB: This was originally recorded as a video and it was an interview in my Speaking Business group on Facebook so there are some references about how we both look. If you want to check out Simone's amazing hair you can follow the link in the show notes. Bio One hundred million new businesses start every year, and 90% of them fail within three years. How do we create sustainable companies? This is the question Simone Vincenzi answers every day. Simone is a multi-award-winning serial entrepre

In this episode I struggle to contain my laughter, you might hear me squeaking in the background, and I also have to warn you that my guest drops a couple of naughty words.  But it's all done in the best possible taste. My guest this week is a leading authority on sales, leadership, customers and change and has been voted Business Communicator of the Year by the Speechwriters' Guild. He is a regular contributor and presenter on TV and Radio and was the star of BBC television's hit business show 'All over the Shop'.  He is regularly seen as a business correspondent and presenter for BBC television's Inside Out programme.  He is the author of many highly successful business books and he has taken a break from guruing around the world he is business guru, Geoff Burch. Bio Geoff Burch is an international business expert, best-selling author, master storyteller and TV presenter. Geoff is the leading authority on sales, customers, leadership and change. His credentials are impressive, working extensively with the w

My guest this week worked both Obama campaigns, starting in January 2007 as Director of Special Events, a position that would take him through 30 states with Barack Obama. Along the way he helped revolutionise how data is gathered and used, how old tools like TV and radio are harmonised for maximum effect with social media, and went on to serve in both Inaugurations, both Administrations, and the President's re-election. He says "The Obama campaigns are like 10 years of a corporation distilled into 18 months. In those few months the campaign is born, learns how to walk then gallop, then blossoms into a billion-dollar corporation that must reach out to 130 million people all in less than 2 years. It is marketing, social media, communications and branding all happening at once and all happening at light speed." He is the Principal at New Day Strategy, bringing these skills to clients in the business world. Please welcome Roger Fisk. Bio Roger Fisk is the political campaign, marketing and media strategist widely

My guest this week is an industry acclaimed A.I. Scientist, Tech Pioneer and Venture Partner at Deep Science Ventures, a venture-focused science institute where audacious entrepreneurial scientists explore solutions to the world's challenges. She is an advisor to both the UK Parliament and the EU Technology Commission in matters of digitalisation and Big Data. Fortune and TIME have described her as one of Europe's top talents in social engagement through technology, and FastCompany labelled her a "firestarter".  Please welcome Inma Martinez. Bio Inma Martinez is an engaged figure in the entrepreneurial, innovation and digitalisation sectors. An industry recognised Artificial Intelligence and digital visionary that pioneered 1:1 personalisation in the early days of the mobile Internet, Inma has been credited to be part of the original development teams behind Wireless Access Protocol (WAP), mobile music and video streaming, wearable technologies, "widgets" – the precursors to mobile apps, and the "connected ca

My guest today is a global brand and business builder, recognised strategy expert, author and speaker.  He has more than 20 years of hands-on experience in successfully creating or re-staging brands that have grown to generate over a billion dollars in combined incremental sales annually around the world. In our chat we learn what the Uber brands are doing and that it isn't always wise to follow every whim, need and trend of the consumer.  Please welcome JP Kuehlwein. Bio JP Kuehlwein is a global brand builder, accomplished business leader and recognised strategy expert. He has a 20+ year track record of creating or repositioning brands that then win in the market. JP's diverse experience ranges from introducing the concept of disposable diapers and Pampers brands to India and South-East Asia to reviving an iconic New York Hair Care and Prestige salon services business. Before co-founding the brand consultancy 'Ueber-Brands' in 2016, JP was Executive Vice President of Frédéric Fekkai and Managing Director of

My guest today is a motivation expert and a student of the art of mastery. She has helped champions to win medals, business leaders to transform performance, sales people to win multi-million-pound deals and individuals to perform beyond their own wildest expectations.  She is a grand prix dressage rider, a former national equestrian champion, a ski instructor, a bestselling author, and was Head of Content for the global computer giant, Dell.  As part of the research for her latest book "Find Your Flame - Why Motivation Matters More Than Talent", she interviewed 50 world class performers from business, science, the arts and sport.  She identified five new intrinsic motivation types that reveal how ordinary people tap into the motivation and achieve extraordinary things.  Bio Sophie Bennett is a best-selling author and champion dressage rider with a strong business background. She has been researching what drives successful people for the last 20 years and is the author of several books. Her new book about wha

My guest this week is a futurist, with an artist's eye and an inventor's mind.  She prototypes future world designs for the entertainment industry, technology companies and cities.  A large part of her time is devoted to research and strategy in the immersive media technology space. Her work consists in connecting bleeding edge technological innovation with some of the world's most original creative visions. She is co-founder of ALLFUTUREEVERYTHING, an agency & a platform for prototyping futures. In her talks, she leads audiences on a journey through what could be. She takes the most cutting-edge digital concepts and places them squarely in our material world, opening our eyes to a future where we live with, in, and around technology much more deeply than we do today.  My guest is Monika Bielskyte Bio A futurist with an artist's eye and an inventor's mind, Monika Bielskyte prototypes culturally diverse, socially and environmentally engaged future world designs for the entertainment industry, technology c

My guest this week has 25 years as a technology entrepreneur and venture capitalist.  Nowadays he also advises large corporations, the European Commissions and various non-profits.  He's a founder, a funder and a futurist.  For me he's an interpreter of trends and we find out all sorts of amazing things that are going to be happening in our future and that are happening already plus we get to meet Ripley!  Please enjoy, Nicklas Bergman. Bio Nicklas Bergman has spent the last 25 years working as an entrepreneur and technology investor, mostly focusing on investments and business development in emerging markets, IT, instrumentation, nanotechnology, computing, new materials and new media art, currently through more than 10 direct and indirect investments. Nicklas is the strategic advisor to European Commissioner Carlos Moedas and the European Innovation Council, working on a new innovation strategy for Europe. He is also Scandinavian representative of the TechCast Technology Think Tank in Washington and member o

Each week I invite one of my speakers to talk about their life, work, passions and leisure so that you can get to know the person who is the speaker behind the mic. This week is a really special edition of the Speaking Business podcast. This is special because it is not very often that you get a guru of this stature to be a guest.  This is why we are going out today on a Monday when normally we wouldn't because he has been available only this morning.  My guest says of himself 'I am a succeedor in a long line of succeedors, Julius Casear, Abraham Lincoln, Tim Henman and Phil Collins all undoubtedly used my methods.  L. Vaughan Spencer or L.Vo as he is known to the hip, is a self-help guru and gangster motivator.  No longer will you be a success-a-phobe. 2004 business speaker of the year for Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire L.Vo always came top in the northern hemisphere motivator of the year under 40 middle weight section.  Although not long ago he had just 19p to his same.  As he says 'somehow only when you ar

This week we are talking to Thomas Anglero.  He is Director of Innovation for IBM in Norway, a two-time entrepreneur, a veteran basketball coach, and an extremely popular motivational speaker.  Thomas was born in New York but has lived in Norway for more than 20 years. He has been an executive for large private and public global companies that gives him a unique perspective on people, technology and culture.  Thomas' favourite presentations are all-out Q&A's with the audiences, no slides, no rehearsal, in real-time living in the moment with the audience making life happen!  In this episode you may be surprised to hear 'All You Need is Love', the Beatles were right! Bio Thomas F Anglero is one of the most exciting and sought-after public speakers in the Nordic countries.  He is an expert in "the new culture challenges that comes with the AI revolution", innovation, teaching disruption to executives, and artificial intelligence's effect on people, society and businesses.  In 2017, Thomas key-noted at over

Angela Oguntala is a futurist and a director at Greyspace – a design and futures consultancy that partners with organisations to think, plan and design for the future. She has worked in education, healthcare, finance, fashion, sustainability and in a range of other spaces across culture and technology. Selected clients of hers include IKEA, Hermès, Microsoft, Philips, and various media groups. She has also been an advisor for policy organisations and large-scale city planning projects in Northern Europe. Angela is a Salzburg Global Fellow and has been named a Future Innovator by The United Nations ICT / Ars Electronica for her thinking and work. In 2017, she was also named a leading creative entrepreneur by Kinfolk and featured as part of their best-selling book series The Kinfolk Entrepreneur. She previously served as the head of the Innovation Lab at EH Design, a group focused on designing and experimenting around emerging technologies. Angela Oguntala is a frequent speaker at conferences and events on futu

This week we are doing something a little different. As well as finding out about the speaker who is the person behind the mic we also find out a bit more about the actual presentation/keynote and we deconstruct the speaker's keynote and tell you bit by bit how he presents his content to the audience. My guest this week is the creator and author of Celebrity Service & OMG Marketing.  He's challenged and inspired audiences across six continents to create award-winning ideas to outperform the competition. Recently featured in Forbes…. they said Celebrity Service was 'A Game Changer'. His clients include, Emirates, Specsavers, IHG and McDonalds. Bio Geoff Ramm is the creator of Celebrity Service and OMG Marketing.  He knows the only way you can attract more customers is to create jaw-dropping marketing and that great customer service leads to lucrative, repeat business.  A multi-award winning customer service and marketing speaker, Geoff has challenged and inspired audiences across five continents.  As well

This week my guest is the Fons! Dr Fons Trompenaars! Fons is a world leader in understanding cultural difference.  His seminal book Riding the Waves of Culture, Understanding Cultural Diversity in Business put culture in business on the map.  He has been ranked as one of the world's most influential management thinkers in the world by the Thinkers50.  Fons has spent over 30 years helping leaders manage and solve their business and cultural dilemmas to increase global effectiveness and performance. He turns corporate leaders into top performers through developing their ability to identify and reconcile dilemmas. We also find out that he's probably Neil Young's biggest fan, so I hope Neil is listening in. Bio Dr Fons Trompenaars is recognised around the world for his work as a consultant, trainer, motivational speaker and author of various books on all subjects of culture and business.  He is a world leader in understanding cultural difference, his seminal book Riding the Waves of Culture, Understanding Cultura